The Sweetness of Water [B0327]

2022 PB. In the spirit of The Known World and The Underground Railroad, an award-winning "miraculous debut" (Washington Post) about the unlikely bond between two freedmen who are brothers and the Georgia farmer whose alliance will alter their lives, and his, forever. One of President Obama's Favorite Books of 2021. Winner of the Ernest J. Gaines Award for Literary Excellence.

In the waning days of the Civil War, brothers Prentiss and Landry-freed by the Emancipation Proclamation-seek refuge on the homestead of George Walker and his wife, Isabelle. The Walkers, wracked by the loss of their only son to the war, hire the brothers to work their farm, hoping through an unexpected friendship to stanch their grief. Prentiss and Landry, meanwhile, plan to save money for the journey north and a chance to reunite with their mother, who was sold away when they were boys. Parallel to their story runs a forbidden romance between two Confederate soldiers. The young men, recently returned from the war to the town of Old Ox, hold their trysts in the woods. But when their secret is discovered, the resulting chaos, including a murder, unleashes convulsive repercussions on the entire community. In the aftermath of so much turmoil, it is Isabelle who emerges as an unlikely leader, proffering a healing vision for the land and for the newly free citizens of Old Ox. With candor and sympathy, debut novelist Nathan Harris creates an unforgettable cast of characters, depicting Georgia in the violent crucible of Reconstruction. Equal parts beauty and terror, as gripping as it is moving, The Sweetness of Water is an epic whose grandeur locates humanity and love amid the most harrowing circumstances.

From recent Amazon/GoodReads reviews: "I chose this book completely at random by shutting my eyes, scrolling back through my TBR until it felt right, then pointing at a title. Whatever I landed on would be my next book. What an absolute GIFT I gave myself by doing that!! This book is so richly and beautifully written, the characters so nuanced and real, their stories so heartbreaking but also rooted in so much love and quiet leadership. I absolutely loved this. Just excellent."; "Incredible character development & storytelling. If this is his 1st novel, I can’t wait for the next one."; "I have just turned the last page of this extraordinary book. A book that left me no choice, but to abandon the dishes, the laundry, and dinner will be a little late. But what could I do but finish this? It was so compelling."